Background of the Study

Chapter I Introduction

A. Background of the Study

Most books, novels, comics, or films in Indonesia are imported from foreign countries, especially Western one. Since these books are written in other languages, not all Indonesian scholars master all those languages. They still find difficulties to understand messages expressed in foreign language. Translating all those from a source language into a target language can solve this phenomenon, and the result can bridge the communication gap among people with different cultural and linguistic background. Thus, a translator plays a role importantly. It has been long taken for granted that translation deals only with language. Cultural perspective, however, has seldom been brought explicitly into discussion. This can be seen in most of the following definitions. Catford 1965: 20 presents the first definition that translation is the replacement of textual material in one language by equivalent textual material in another language. In this definition, the most important thing is equivalent textual material. Yet, it is still vague in terms of the type of equivalence. It seems that culture is not taken into account. Very much similar to this definition is that by Savory 1968 who maintains that translation is made possible by an equivalent of thought that lies behind its different verbal expressions. Next, Nida and Taber 1969 explain the process of translating as follows. “Translating consists of reproducing in the receptor language the closest natural equivalent of the source language message, first in terms of meaning and secondly in terms of style” From that statement, it can be seen that a good translation is the translation, which transfers the entire message from the original work into another language. From the definitions stated in 1960s-1980s, some similarities have been found: 1 there is a change of expression from one language to the other, 2 the meaning and message are rendered in the TL, and 3 the translator has an obligation to seek for the closest equivalent in the TL. Yet, there is no indication that culture is taken into account except in that of Nida and Taber. Actually, they themselves do not mention this matter very explicitly. Following his explanation on closest natural equivalent, however, it can be inferred that cultural consideration is considered. The concept of closest natural equivalence is rooted in Nidas concept of dynamic equivalent. His celebrated example is the translation of Lamb of God into the Eskimo language. Here lamb symbolizes innocence, especially in the context of sacrifice. In fact, Eskimo culture does not know lamb. Thus, the word does not symbolize anything. Instead of Lamb of God, he prefers Seal of God to transfer the message. Here Nida talks about cultural aspects. It plays an important role in human life, culture, therefore, should be considered. Culture, as stated in Oxford Learner’s Pocket Dictionary, is customs, beliefs, arts, way of life, etc of a particular country or group. While Peter Newmark in “Textbook of Translation” stated culture as follows: “I define culture as the way of life and its manifestation that is peculiar to the community that uses a particular language as its means of expression” Adapting Nida, he also categorizes culture into some typical examples of Ecology―flora, fauna, winds, plains, hills: ‘tundra’, ‘plateau’, selva tropical rain forest, savanna, ‘paddy field; Material culture artifacts―food, clothes, houses and towns, transport; Social Culture__work and leisure; Organizations, customs, activities, procedures, concepts; gestures and habits A Textbook of Translation 1988: 94-95. Those are the examples of cultural divergences over the world. According to James 2002, cultural divergence results into four implications towards translation, they are a searching the closest equivalent meaning, b interpreting explicited meaning in the sentence pattern, c adjusting the translation process with translator’s ideology, and d understanding the way of life in both cultures. The first, second, and forth implication is related to cross- cultural understanding and the adjustment of closest concept, institution, or names containing cultural meaning in the target language. The third implication is related to principles or beliefs to make the translation acceptable. If the translator orientations are on the adaptation of target language culture, which make their work, does not sound as the translation work, then the ideology is named as domestication. Hence, if the translation is intended to make readers feel the existence of the source language culture, the ideology is called as foreignization. Novel is one of texts that full of cultural meaning. However, translating novel is different from translating the other form of texts. If it is not translated well, the translators tend to translate it literally which can make their work vague. When translating novel, the translators have to master three aspects, they are linguistic aspect, cultural aspect, and the excellence of storytelling. Belloc in Bassnett-McGuire, in his opinion, states that translating fictions should obey these rules: translators should consider the text unity; translators should find the equivalent idiom of the target language idiom; translators should be aware of words or structures which is almost the same in both languages but actually different; translators should catch implicit meanings intended by the author; translators should be brave of changing every single part which should be changed briefly. Translators are not allowed to spice the story of source text worse or more precious. Harry Potter that is strongly adhered in reader’s mind especially kids, is one of foreign fiction novels. Since the first publishing, the orders had been far received before the book circulated. In this thesis, the writer chooses Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince edition. This novel is authorized by Joanne Kathleen Rowling, translated by Listiana Srisanti, and published by PT. Garmedia. This novel is interesting to read because J. K. Rowling charts Harry Potter’s adventures in his sixth year of Hogwarts with a mix of detail and humor that is unsurpassed, place that is breathless and above all a flair that is magical. This novel also contains many technical terms of cultural aspect, which recognizes readers to England, the author’s background culture. The synopsis of this novel can be seen in appendix 2. The process of translating, however, is not as easy and simple as people think. Thus, being a good translator is hard job. There are many problems faced. The translator, of course, should be able to overcome the language and culture system difference. If they have mastered that knowledge, of course, it will help her reproduce in the target language not only accurate meaning but also appropriate styles. As this study focuses on the translation product, the researcher analyzes and clarifies what techniques decided on this translated novel. Related to the cultural background, following are the examples of its translation: Datum 29a Datum 29b “Yes, of course. Well, Wormtail’s here, but we’re not accounting vermin, are we? “Ya, tentu saja. Wormtail ada disini, tapi tikus tidak masuk hitungan, kan?” From the example above, it can be seen that the translator chooses tikus as the most equivalent word for vermin. The term Vermin, based on the Contemporary English-Indonesian Dictionary, which is authorized by Drs. Peter Salim, M.A., is small animals or insects that are harmful to crops, birds, and other animals; or people who are harmful to the society. Vermin is rather difficult to be translated because it is an imaginative figure in the novel. By concerning this following sentences, it can be known the portraits of a man called Wormtail, Vermin himself, which his face is like a mouse. He pointed his wand at the wall of books behind him and with a bang; a hidden door flew open, revealing a narrow staircase upon which a small man stood frozen. “As you have clearly realized, Wormtail, we have guests,” said Snape lazily. The man crept, hunchbacked, down the last few steps and moved into the room. He had small, watery eyes, a pointed nose, and wore an unpleasant simper. His left hand was caressing his right, which looked as though it was encased in a bright silver glove. The translator assumes that Tikus is the most appropriate analogy for Vermin because his attitude disturbs others as a mouse does. A mouse, is characteristically always harmful to people. Most Indonesian people have shared this philosophy. The next paragraph shows the fact that Vermin is harmful. “He has lately taken to listening at doors; I don’t know what he means by it...You were saying Narcissa?” Datum 30a Datum 30b “Busybodies. Intruders. Muggles and filth.” HPHBP: 10: 192 “Orang-orang yang ingin tahu. Pengganggu. Muggle dan sampah.” HPPBC: 10: 258 The words ‘scum’ in datum 30 is translated into ‘sampah’. According to Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary the word Scum is defined as an insulting word for people that is strongly disapproved; a layer of bubles or an unpleasant substance that forms on the surface of a liquid. However, it is not appropriate to translate scum and filth into sampah because ‘sampah’ closely related to the act of disturbing and damaging society. In this novel, the words scum and filth are better translated into ‘manusia keturunan rendah’ because the context talks about the status. The translator should pay attention deeper on the target reader circumstances. According to the background of the study, the researcher is interested in carrying out a research with the title “The Translation of Culturally-Bound Words in the Novel “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince” Translated by Listiana Srisanti A Descriptive Study”.

B. Problem Identification